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Posted by: | Posted on: May 12, 2016

Political Paradigm of Pragmatism from the Khmer Youth part 62

Political Paradigm of Pragmatism from the Khmer Youth part 62

Sek-Bun-Huk-textThis part (62) broadcasted in April 24-25, 2016, Mr. Sophan Seng continued to articulate on the statement of HE Sik Bun Hok, president of the National Election Committee (NEC), to include migrant workers to register to vote and to vote per se in Cambodia upcoming election ie. commune election 2017 and national election 2018.

According to this announcement, it is a good news for migrant workers working domestically and internationally. Mr. President must state it clear that migrant workers in Thailand, South Korea, and many other places outside Cambodia could register and vote in their sites without interrupting to travel back to Cambodia to register as well as to vote.

Mr. Sophan Seng is appealing the President of NEC and NEC’s members to seriously articulate and implement the inclusive voters registration and to undertake the voting boots at their nearest places while working overseas. Further more, Mr. Sophan solemnly requested NEC to undertake Cambodians overseas absentee voting so that all those Cambodians overseas can actively participate in building the future of Cambodia.

Posted by: | Posted on: August 14, 2013

Political myth and the reality on the “return”

mythWhen I was young, I saw the best man (key actor) of the local opera always lost at the beginning but won at the end. The endurance during this loss-win intermittent is their exit trip by escaping from the palace to explore knowledge (ចំណេះដឹង) and authority (បារមី) from the jungle.

Cambodian political leaders have significantly accumulated their authority and galvanized their supporters from the sampling of this Khmer local opera. Remarkably, the historical myth of this story tells us following:

King Norodom Sihanouk returned immediately from his school “Lycée Chasseloup Laubat” in Saigon, Southern Vietnam, to accept the coronation in 10 days after the previous Crown (his maternal grandfather King Sisovath Munivong) passed away on 23 April 1941. He is known as enthusiastic young prince. His knowledge and experiences accumulated from outside Cambodia partly factored the popularity for his successful non-violence mass demonstration to free Cambodia from French colony. He succeeded the mission on 9 November 1953.

For Pol Pot, his attempt for revolution from inside the city likely yielded in vain. Pol Pot traveled to the jungle and built up his reputation from there. In this fact, once I heard ex-professor Keng Vansak made a joke among Khmer Rouge revolutionists that if they wished to succeed, they must accumulate power from the forest by an analogy comparing to key actor(s) of Khmer opera who can liberate the kingdom only after he returned back from the forest.

The myth of this story re-iterated in Cambodia again when Sam Rainsy, the key leader of opposition party (CNRP) returned back to Cambodia on 19 July 2013 after nearly 4 years of self-imposed exile in French. The return was remarked by the largest rally of supporters (majorly youths) in the history of Cambodia politics, to greet him.

At the moment, while the preliminary results of national election declared by NEC, the two key political parties are contesting on the free and fair, and the credible performance of the NEC, Sam Rainsy is on his trip to the US to participate with his daughter’s wedding including other permissible opportunities. 

Hence, the return of Sam Rainsy from this trip will surely surprise Cambodian people, if not little, it would be gigantic.

Peace,

Sophoan 

Posted by: | Posted on: August 13, 2013

Post National Election and The Challenges

The protest on the irregularities of the National Election in Cambodia on July 28, 2013 has become tense as the NEC has been distrusted by the people and international communities in conducting a free and fair election.

Analysts have been surprised by the huge crowd of Cambodian people especially youths participated in the political campaign, voting and observing their ballots.

From the stance of CNRP, the irregularities and NEC’s alone to handle complaints in the election is irrelevant. Third party such as civil society and United Nations are in need to ensure free and fair and possibly help the NEC to gain its credit as well. If NEC decide to solve problem by itself or participating only two key political parties, it will not assure the free and fair; and it undermines the will and rights of the electorates because NEC itself is the defendant and it can not play its role as the plaintiff at the same time.

Following are some evidences of competitive result, ballot protecting of those voters and recent gathering of the CNRP’s leaders to “thanks” the supporters.

Posted by: | Posted on: August 12, 2013

NEC is the bridge but plays its role towards destruction

If Cambodian leaders can put aside personal view, and put the interest of the nation first, the recommendation of Special Rapporteur Surya Subedi is the win win approach for this nation.

NEC reform
At the moment, we can see clearly that the powerful ruling party is playing procrastinating game and no political will of reform or following the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur at all. 
 
This election is a gross loss at its legitimacy as NEC has been increasingly summing up bad credit among the electorates and international communities. Hence, this body has been fully protected by the ruling party. We can see the mass and the will of the Cambodian electorates are the winner over this loser system. With this imbalanced existing scenario sufficiently create fragile bottom up power and can lead to destruction and instability of this nation. Political scientists can not pre-calculate on the magnitude of crisis caused by this ineffective bridge: the strong bottom up power with the upper ineffective system. If crisis occurred, the CNRP is not the responsible party while this party is working hard to accommodate itself with the bottom up power and to organize their spirit within an order movement. But if the institution power and its system is continuing to ignore this power, or without comprehending this power, or working to cope this power by force; the unprecedented crisis is tangibly intolerable.
 
By national and international law, CNRP has relevant demand on the creation of a credential commission to investigate the election irregularities as well as to pave way for future confidence of this national bridging committee. There is a professional move by changing from proposing UNs as the referee to be an investigative member. I think this is a provision to avoid tension which I don’t see from another side. In contrast, the mobilization of the military with heavy ammunition is a sign of doing a job that is not described in the job description and it is a sign of tension.
 
At the meantime, Cambodian people are learning the value of democracy and we can testify this by the ballots they voted on July 28, 2013; but the ruling party is still delivering the same messages, the messages of using armed force for national security, unity and sovereignty. This message is again stated by government spokesperson with Hello VOA today (August 12, 2013). While NEC was heavily criticized since its inception and it is requested for reform by both Cambodian people and the international communities, the ruling party is not only being so protective to the NEC but also exposing itself as the secure shield to protect this body at all cost.
 
It is time for the ruling party to use the armed force in the way of democracy principle and stop protecting the rotten fish in order to freshen the whole fish and embark Cambodia in a safe haven. 
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